ACTS LESSON 31
In the last lesson, Paul and Barnabas had healed a man who had
been lame from birth. The people of the town thought Paul and
Barnabas to be their false gods, Mercury and Jupiter. They thought
these false gods had taken on the form of man and done the miracles.
The priest of these false gods wanted to sacrifice to Paul and
Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas were terribly frightened by this and
stopped them. Now, we will pick up this lesson in Acts 14:17.
Acts 14:17 "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in
that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,
filling our hearts with food and gladness."
We see that Paul and Barnabas, here, are telling these people
about the only true God. The Creator of the world. Paul tells them
that even nature itself testifies of this one true God. This lengthy
description here and in the previous lesson is explaining to them the
magnitude of the true God. Paul is explaining how foolish it is to
worship Mercury and Jupiter, that the one to worship is the Creator of
all things. This God that Paul is telling them about is concerned
about His creation and provides for their needs. Paul explains the
true God through nature.
Acts 14:18 "And with these sayings scarce restrained they the
people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them."
They were able to stop the people from sacrificing to them, but it
was not easy. These people were not easily convinced of this God they
had never heard of before.
Acts 14:19 "And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch
and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew
[him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
This, again, is not the same Antioch where the believers were
first called Christians. This is the same group who gave Paul trouble
at Iconium. It appears here that they stoned Paul so badly, that they
took him for dead and drug him out of the city . This, to me, is
almost unbelievable, when just a few hours earlier they had thought
him to be a god. This shows how quickly people forget the miracles,
and the same people can easily believe something bad about Paul.
Acts 14:20 "Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he
rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with
Barnabas to Derbe."
We see the loyalty of the disciples even in the face of death.
Even though Paul has been left for dead, they gather around him. The
strength of this many believers has to be what caused him to rise up.
We did not read how Barnabas escaped, but it appears he was not stoned
with Paul. It appears, just as Paul had fled to Lystra and Derbe
before from Iconium, he flees to Derbe here.
Acts 14:21 "And when they had preached the gospel to that city,
and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium,
and Antioch,"
The preaching of the gospel in Derbe brought them renewed courage,
and Paul and Barnabas went right back to where they had all the
trouble. They were undaunted by the stonings. They were determined
to bring the good news of the gospel to this entire area, even if it
endangered their lives.
Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting
them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."
We see, here, their reason for returning to this hostile region is
to check on those who received the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
These new disciples (followers of Christ) will be persecuted just as
Paul was, and Paul has come to tell them that the way will not be
easy. Even though the tribulation is great (like Paul's stoning),
they must stand firm in the Lord to inherit the kingdom of God. This
message is not only for them, but is for us as well. We can't give in
to the enemy when trials come. In this life we will have tribulation
(trials), but be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world and we
can, too, through Him.
Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every
church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord,
on whom they believed."
The first trip Paul had made into this area, he was like an
evangelist. He preached and many were saved, but this trip he is back
to establish a church for them. This body of believers would have to
hang together to be able to survive. The need for a church unit (one
reason) is that the members can draw strength from each other. This
ordaining of elders was so the local church could function with a
leader. The prayer and fasting was so God could choose, through them,
the right leader, and that leader could be duly recommended to God.
Acts 14:24 "And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they
came to Pamphylia."
This Pisidia was a mountainous district in Asia Minor, north of
Pamphylia. It was a really rough area filled with robbers. These men
were at odds with Rome. Pamphylia means of every race. This was the
first country in this area for Paul to visit.
Acts 14:25 "And when they had preached the word in Perga, they
went down into Attalia:"
Perga is the capital of Pamphylia. The main worship in this area,
before Paul's visit, was the worship of Diana. This was a hard town
to minister in, because of the deep seated worship of this false god.
Acts 14:26 "And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had
been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they
fulfilled."
We see, in all of this missionary journey, a presence of God's
will at all times. It is as if they (Paul and Barnabas) are led by
the will of God to minister in certain places. They fulfilled their
part. They went where God sent them, regardless of the consequences.
They equipped themselves by fasting and prayer. They were acting as
agents of God. Notice the word (fulfilled). We see by this that they
completed the job that God gave them to do. They had pleased God.
Acts 14:27 "And when they were come, and had gathered the church
together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he
had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
They were all excited telling all of their Jewish helpers how God
was the God of the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. God had opened the
door to His church to all people. God, the Holy Spirit, had gone on
ahead of Paul and Barnabas and prepared the hearts of those who were
to believe and receive the Lord as Saviour. God had shown this
Pharisee (Paul) that Christianity was for the Gentile, as well as the
Jew.
Acts 14:28 "And there they abode long time with the disciples."
This was like a time of rest. They were with the disciples who
believed as they did. There were no unbelieving Jews to harass them
here. This was a much needed time of rest.
Notes
Acts 31 Questions
1. In verse 17, what does Paul say should be a witness to them of
God?
2. Who had these people sacrificed to?
3. Where did the Jews come from that stirred up trouble?
4. What did the people do to Paul?
5. Why did they take him to the edge of the city?
6. When the disciples stood around Paul, what happened?
7. Where did they go (Paul and Barnabas)?
8. Verse 21 tells us what they did in this area before they left,
what was it?
9. What three places did Paul go to, when he left Derbe?
10. What did confirming the souls of the disciples mean?
11. How must we enter into the kingdom of God?
12. Why should we rejoice in tribulation?
13. What was Paul doing when he ordained elders in every church?
14. What did Paul and Barnabas do before they commended someone as
leader of a particular church?
15. Where was Pisidia located?
16. What does Pamphyla mean?
17. Where did they go after preaching the word in Perga?
18. What is Perga?
19. Who was the object of worship here before Paul came?
20. Where did they sail to, when they left Attalia?
21. Name several special things we see in this missionary journey that
should be part of our missionary journey, as well.
22. Paul told all of the Christians gathered here how God had opened
the door of faith to whom?
23. Verse 28 tells of a time of what?
Notes
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